The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-06-04

We drove to the Colonel's bankers in
Lombard street; he had preceded us by
an hour, having been there to withdraw
some specie, and all the diamonds deposited
there for safety, "for presentation to Lady
Augusta Darcy" he had informed them.
The two noblemen were doubtful no
longer man was a scoundrel; and they
drove off to the Peruvian Embassy to make
inquiries. l and jacob returned to Frog
nal, where a surprise awaited me-a letter
with an Essex postmark. Wondering, l
tore it open and read as follows:
SIR,-Last eyenin young lady, dusty and
seemin to have trampit miles, stopt at my
gate and axed for drink of water, then fell
down faintin. Me and my husband carried
her into room as we lets there was only 3
shillins and your card in her pocket. We
hopes you or somebody will come, as we be
ole foke.
Your humble servant,
MARTHA CoPPIN.
WildcoOd Cottage, TheydOn Bois Road.
"Well done good Marthal' cried 1.
"Jacobi, l am called away for few hours.
Try to amuse yourself until return"
"Thou must be summoned by cara
amica, mio Sceratano, thy look is so
happy"
l flew to my partners DIR. Vereker's.
He was out, but l told Mrs. Vereker the
whole story of my meeting with the young
girl. Like the good practical woman she
is, she prepared at once to accompany me
down to Essex. We caught the 6 p NJ.
train, and at Z were standing before Mar
tha Coppin's honeysuckle-embowered cot
tage at Theydon Bois. How love that
old Norman namel The setting sun cast
long golden rays through the tall forest
trees by which it was surrounded. What
a peaceful rural scene, and only one hours
journey from the dense East End! Martha
herself opened the door, and thankful she
was to see us. The young lady, she said,
was better after nights rest and new
milk, but mortal weak. We found the
young girl reclining in an old arm chair.
She was at first startled at our entrance,
for the old woman, it seems, had sent to
me without her knowledge; then, recogniz-
ing me, faint blush of pleasure passed
over her pale face, and she timidly stretch
ed out thin little hand. She looked ethe-
really beautiful-too fragile.
"My name is Teresa Delmar," said she,
telling her story. II was born at Lima.
My mother, who was a Peruvian, died
when was ten years old, and my father,
who was English, took me to school at
Nice, for he was in the army and could
not see much of his little girl. lived at
Nice for seven happy years. During that
time my father came over to see me twice.
He was about taking me from school when
that dreadful war broke out. Then the
news came that he was killed, and it nearly
broke my heart. Afterward came letter
telling me it was not so-he was spared,
but with the loss of his right hand. Then
he sent for me home to London. One Of
the governesses travelled with me to take
care of me. My father met me at Dover.
l was shocked at the change in him, for he
had been a great sufferer from his wounds
Lie took me to small house near the Re
gents Park. He was no longer the dear
father of my childhood, but hard and stern.
He placed an old housekeeper over me, and
forbade me corresponding with any one.
He was my father, and it was my duty to
obey him; but was very unhappy" She
paused, shedding few tears.
'Go on, dear child, y said Mrs Vereker,
taking her hand and retaining it.
"0nce l told him how different he was
from the loving father l remembered. He
was dreadfully angry with me, and locked
me up. But got out some times in the
early morning-the housekeepers niece
was kind to me and managed it. l was
wretched, for he said l was mad! l am
not-though 1 have had enough to make
me so. l longed to be at rest You saved
me. l was very wicked, know. My
father, who now seldom came to the house,
took me few days ago to private lunatic
asylum near Ongar. | owed obedience to
a parent, but none to mad doctor Yes
terday 1 crept through the garden hedge,
walking across the fields to avoid observa-
ton, and l escaped. hoped to reach
London, but tainted with fatigue at this
good woman's gate"
Obtaining a wagonette at a neighboring
farm, for she was too weak to walk the
short distance to the station, we brought
the poor fugitive to DIR. Vereker's house.
By dint of inquiries it transpired that
clerk at the bank in Lima had left his sit
uation few years previously in order to
become Colonel Delmar's confidential sec
retary; he was with him up to the time of
the siege. Having possession Of important
o~l ,rksr Ir1axuloIn~o oe he
employers private affairs, besides being of
similar age and stature, doubtless the facil-
tiles for the preparation of gigantic
fraud tempted him, sacrificing his right
hand that his well-known writing might
not betray him. His next step was to OBJ
tain possession of Teresa and the use of
her fortune, her father having been sole
guardian and trustee to the young heir
ess. The impostor was never traced;
perhaps we did not try to do so, but let
him off with his mutilated arm and ill-got-
ten spoil, which, after all, would only just
keep him from absolute want for his life.
"The devils corn always grinds to chat"
said jacob.
To the world Of fashion it was given out
that the marriage of Lady Augusta and
Colonel Gonzales was broken off in couse-
quence of quarrel, and that the Colonel
had quilted England.
Teresa Delmar's health was very delicate
for some time, owing to the strain on her
nervous SYSTEM but, thanks to good con-
stitution, by Heavens blessing she rallied.
Her chosen residence was with my parents
and sisters, at our simple country vicarage,
great heiress though she was, until she at
tanned her majority. She is now the light
and joy Of her husbands home. Can you
guess who he is?